Senior Ward Sister

Are you a registered nurse with experience in managerial leadership, looking to make a meaningful difference? In this role, you'll be pivotal in inspiring and motivating a team of nurses and healthcare assistants within our inpatient unit to deliver a high standard of specialist palliative care. Main duties of the job You will create, lead and maintain a nursing culture which is open to change, new ideas, concepts and innovation whilst influencing Pilgrims strategy and direction. You will be responsible for improving the patient experience and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care can flourish and be measured., Inpatient Unit - Senior Ward Sister, The Senior Ward Sister is responsible forproviding inspirational and motivational clinical leadership to a team ofnurses, to deliver a high standard of specialist palliative care nursing inconjunction with the multi-disciplinary team on the inpatient unit. Thisincludes assessment of patient and family needs in conjunction with themulti-disciplinary team, as well as providing expert clinical advice bothinternally and externally. The post holder will create, lead and maintaina nursing culture which is open to change, new ideas, concepts and innovationwhilst influencing Pilgrims strategy and direction. The post holder will be responsible forimproving the patient experience and safeguarding high standards of care bycreating an environment in which excellence in clinical care can flourish andbe measured. In conjunction with the Hospice ServicesManager the post holder will have responsibility for the safe management andsecurity of the inpatient unit, on a daily basis, which may include weekendswhen required. To act as a senior member of the care team,influencing development of the organisation. The post holder will manage resourcesefficiently and effectively within agreed budgets and will be involved inbudget setting. DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Clinical Responsibilities / Clinical Management Ensurethat planning, implementation and evaluation of total care of the patient andfamily is individualised, evidence based and of the highest standard andquality. Tobe a leader and proactive role model with presence within the inpatient unit,integrating with the multi professional team, maintaining an overview ofpatient care, acting as a resource and offering guidance and support. Atregular intervals, monitor the effectiveness of clinical care provided topatients and their families in the inpatient unit by undertaking quality checks,ensuring that working practices are followed at all times and that clinicalservices are delivered appropriately. Participatein clinical ward rounds on a regular basis to ensure knowledge of patients. Attendthe multi professional team meetings to provide expert opinion on patient andclinical care issues. Attendor chair meetings both within the hospice and externally as required. Ensurethe promotion of the safety, well being and interests of patients, staff andvisitors to the clinical area. Leadon the identification of risks which may impact upon patients and the deliveryof a high quality clinical service. Promote awareness of risk managementamongst junior staff and colleagues. Ensurestaff give support and advice to patients families and other health careprofessionals contacting the hospice, both in and out of hours, and documentappropriately Usecomplaints and concerns positively and proactively to review and improve thequality of the service and lead on the development and progression of actionplans arising from complaints. Ensurethe Senior Nurse Manager or Clinical Lead is informed of any significantchanges in the day to day situation of the inpatient unit. 2. Professional Leadership Demonstrateeffective leadership skills and provide regular team meetings, supervision ofstaff, and ensuring annual appraisals & PDPs for the nursing team arecompleted within the time required. Demonstratethe necessary skills to establish and maintain high level effectivecommunication to patients, relatives and members of the multi professionalteam. Workacross all shift patterns to ensure high visibility, effective leadership andmanagement of the nursing team. Inconjunction with senior colleagues within the multi professional team respondpositively to change initiatives, demonstrating awareness of the implicationsand acting as an effective change agent. Ensurethat communication within the team is a two way process, supporting andempowering staff to make suggestions or decisions around aspects of improvementto the patient experience. Activelyestablish and develop relationships with internal and external agencies andorganisations as part of a wider system of promoting Pilgrims Hospice with keystakeholders. Superviseand evaluate nursing documentation continuously and implement any requiredactions to ensure high quality professional documentation; ensuring alldocumentation is accurate, up to date and review dates are in place andachieved. Inconjunction with Senior clinical colleagues and the wider nursing team, ensurethat clinical policies and procedures reflect best practice, professional codesof conduct, The Care Quality Commission Standards Inconjunction with the leads for Infection Prevention, Tissue Viability andManual Handling ensure all clinical areas adhere to Pilgrims Policies and bestpractice guidelines. Ensurethat regular team meetings are held to ensure dissemination of information anda two way forum for communication, and that minutes are circulated in a timelyfashion and actions are completed. Togetherwith Senior Nurse Manager and senior nursing team set standards / competenciesof nursing care and ensure that these are maintained at optimum level. Takeresponsibility for accessing regular clinical supervision / reflectivepractice. Ensurethat the care given is fully compliant with the CQC and CCG standards at alltimes. Activelycontribute to the delivery of Pilgrims Hospices Patient Service Strategy Be aware of and acceptresponsibility for own clinical practice. Maintain andcontinue personal development in symptom control, leadership and management,teaching and communication skills. 3. People Management and Development Ensure that theinpatient unit has an appropriate establishment and skill mix and that dutyrotas meet the needs of the clinical area at all times. Support themanagement of nursing staff and ward based volunteers on a daily basis,including induction, recruitment, appraisals, performance management involvingline manager if areas of concern are identified. Workcollaboratively to develop and implement staff clinical competencies. To monitor theperformance of the deputy ward sister through effective performance review andempower the deputy sister to manage performance related issues of team members. Ensure allnursing staff are fully compliant with all aspects of statutory and mandatorytraining. Ensureidentification of relevant, appropriate ongoing training requirements for allinpatient nursing staff and that there is a training plan in place tofacilitate individual training needs in line with Pilgrims service objectives. Monitor theevaluations and outcomes of student placements; put any actions in place thatare identified to ensure the placement remains a preferred choice from thelocal university. Act as a rolemodel and mentor, demonstrating positive attitudes and behaviour at all timesas per Pilgrims Behaviours and Values Framework. Accept directline-management responsibility for the inpatient unit flexi bank nurses andHCAs ensuring they receive all ward and organisational communications andcomply with training and performance requirements. Takeresponsibility for the training, orientation and probationary evaluation of allnewly appointed nursing staff. Deliver andparticipate in teaching sessions in areas of expertise within the hospice andexternally if required. Takeresponsibility for your own professional development, including keeping up todate with relevant clinical, professional and management issues at local andnational level. Ensure that youare fully compliant with the requirements of professional revalidation. 4. Finance / Resource Management Ensure that inpatient unitpatient equipment is used and maintained in a safe and serviceable conditionand that faults are reported promptly. Monitor the use of flexi bankand additional hours, being mindful of keeping within the agreed budget andhighlighting excess use to the Senior Nurse Manager for Inpatient Services. 5. Audit, Researchand Policy Development Engage inresearch, audit and quality initiatives, encouraging participation andawareness within the nursing team. In collaborationwith the MDT lead audit programmes ensuring wide ownership and activeparticipation across the inpatient unit nursing team Implement anylearning from audit and research projects Assist the leadnurses for Infection Prevention and Tissue Viability with conducting wardaudits such as hand hygiene compliance, mattress and environmental audits,sharps adherence and commode cleaning audits. To contribute tothe development of new policies and the review of existing policies andprocedures. To be responsiblefor the implementation and monitoring of compliance against policies andprocedures, including issues arising from complaints or incidents.

• Experience of successful team leadership as a senior post holder
• Previous experience at Band 6 or equivalent within a palliative care or comparable setting
• Experience of introducing change in a clinical service.
• Experience of working with a patient-centred philosophy of multi-professional team working.
• Experience of formal and informal teaching
• Experience of standard setting and audit
Qualifications Essential
• Registered Nurse
• Healthcare Leadership Training
• Qualification or working towards a Healthcare Management qualification or equivalent.
• Relevant degree or working towards
• Independent Prescriber specific to Palliative Care; or willing to complete within one year of start date.
  
  Pilgrims Hospices provide care and support for patients with life limiting illness, and their families, in wards and private rooms thoughtfully designed for comfort and care.